Windshield wiper and arm connection



June 23, 1953 KRQHM 2,642,613

WINDSHIELD WIPER AND ARM CONNECTION Origina l Filed March 25, 19 50mmvron FRED A. KRoHM ATTO NEY Patented June 23, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE Fred A. Krohm, Gary, Ind., assignor :to Produc-I Ytivelnventions, Inc., a corporation :of'lndiana Original application.March 23, 1950,, Serial No.

151,503. Divided and this application April 21, v 1951, Serial No.222,269

This invention relates generally to windshield wiper arms and moreparticularly is directed to improved means for detachably connecting awindshield wiper arm to a wiper blade.

More specifically, the invention contemplates providing the free end ofa wiper arm with an opening for receiving an entering part or latchcarried by a wiper blade.

Another object of the invention is to provide the free end of a wiperarm with an offset and a channel fitting or shroud which is preferablypermanently connected to the arm and offset in a manner whereby toeliminate the use of a rivet which is usually employed to secure such afitting to a wiper arm.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction consistingof a minimum number of parts, which may be economically manufactured andassembled on a production basis, and when assembled are positive andefficient in action and result.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrangement whichenhances the general appearance or design of a wiper arm.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent afterthe description hereinafter set forth is considered in conjunction withthe drawings annexed hereto.

In the drawings wherein identical parts are designated by the samenumerals:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shroud member carried by a free endof a wiper blade carrying section of a wiping arm, with portions of theshroud member being broken away to exemplify details of itsconstruction; and

Figure 2 is a perspective view depicting the means for connecting thewiper blade unit to the arm unit, with portions of the means beingbroken away to illustrate details of its construction.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No.151,503, filed March 23, 1950.

The principles of design and construction embodied in the connector 40,latch 39 thereof and the manner of operatively connecting the connectorand latch to a wiper blade 4! are being claimed in applicants co-pendingapplication bearing a filing date of September 25, 1952, and Serial No.311,425, the latter being a continuation of an earlier applicationbearing a filing date of January 29, 1946, and Serial No. 644,120.

Referring to the drawings, the wiper arm includes an elongated outer barsection 4 having connector means generally designated 6 providedadjacent its free end.

4Claims. (01.15450) Thev free end of the bar section is preferablyformed with a right angled or otfsejt substantially square portion 31having a generally square opening :or hole 38 therein, which opening ispreferably adapted to receive a spring pressed or yieldable catchor-latch 39 constituting a component of a connector 40 carried by awiper blade generally designated 4-! shown in Figure 2.

The connector 41} is preferably of channel construction and is pivotally mounted on the wiper blade 45L. :More particularly the connectorincludes a pair of side walls and an outer front wall which areinterrupted to provide an opening or entrance-way for receiving theoffset end 31 of the arm section 4 as exemplified in Figure 2.

A channel shaped shroud 42 is attached to the arm section about theoffset 31. This shroud includes a top wall which bears against the topside of the arm and side walls 43 which straddle the connector 40. Eachwall is provided with an outwardly extending depression 44 which formsan internal groove or recess for receiving the side portion of theoffset to lock the shroud on the arm. The shroud is also provided withfingers 45 which are clamped against the underside of the arm to assistin locking the shroud to the arm. With this novel arrangement, the useof a rivet customarily employed to hold the shroud to the arm iseliminated and as a consequence the cost of the arm is reduced and itsgeneral appearance or design is improved.

It will be noted that the shroud member is further provided withlongitudinally extending formations 46 as clearly illustrated andportions of these formations in combination with the'depressions 44provide generally L-shaped recesses or grooves. The arrangement ispreferably such that the longitudinal marginal edge portions of theblade carrying section received in the longitudinal formations 46 of theshroud member 42. g

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that to connect the bladeto the arm it is merely necessary to insert the offset 31 of the arminto the entrance-way provided in the connector 40 so that the hole 38in the offset is located substantially within the confines of theconnector. The yieldable latch 39 is retracted by the offset as theoffset is directed into the entrance-way and when the offset is properlyseated or positioned the latch will automatically 4 of the wiper arm areHaving thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousmodifications may be made in the same without departing from the spiritof the invention; and, therefore, I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts herein shown and described and defined'in theclaims.

lclaim: V V

1. An outer section of a windshield wiper arm provided with an L-shapedintegral portion, said portion having an opening to receive an enter-' ablade, a channel member ing part carried by having a base wall and sidewalls, and each of said side walls having an L-shaped groove portionreceiving and clamping against an edge of said integral portion topermanently lock the channel member to the arm section,

2. The structure defined in claim 1, in which the channel member is alsoprovided with integral fingers clamped against the arm section.

*3. In combination: awiper blade unit comprising a resilient wipingelement and a support therefor, a connector carried by the blade, saidconnector comprising a channel provided with an entrance-way, ayieldable latch disposed in the channel and having a locking part, awiper arm unit having a free end portion provided with a hol said endportion extending into the entrance-way so that the hole is locatedsubstantially within the confines of the channel, and said locking partextending into'said hole for connecting the units together.

4. In combination: a wiper blade unit comprising a resilient wipingelement and 1a support therefor, a connector'pivotally connected to theblade, said connector comprising a channel provided with anentrance-way, a yieldable latch pivotally mounted in the channel, saidlatch having a locking part located within'the confines of the channelandan extension projecting outwardly from one end of the channel formanual engagement to facilitate operation of the latch, a wiper arm unithaving a free ofiset end portion provided with a hole, said end portionextending into the entrance-way so that the hole islocated'substantially within theconfines of the channel and said lockingpart extending into said hole for connecting the units together.

' I FRED A. KROHM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,779,344 Tarver Oct. 21, 1930 2,203,346 Anderson June 4, 19402,404,523 Nesson July 23, 1946 2,432,693 Anderson Dec. 16, 1947

